Coin box



H. L. NEILSVEN ET AL 00m BOX I July 29, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May '25, 1950 INVENTORS an I. JVezlsen ATTORNEYS Michael Feis l 28 l4b purposes.

from .salesis also placed in the ,cashregisters, 1 and at the .endofxthe day, the total amount of Patented July 29, 1952 Neilsen and Michael J. Feis, Metuchen, N, J.

Application May 23, 1950 Serial No. 163,771

5 Claims. (01. 205-0 9 This invention relates to acoin box for :holding a predetermined number .rof. coins and more particularly to a coin. box which facilitates the handling and counting .of coins.

. Any activity which is concerned with thense of a sizeable amount of small. change is confronted :with certain common problems of accubecause he will desire verification of the amount turned over to him. Frequently, too, the-person counting the moneywill rollrcoins of different denominations in specialv paper wrappers ior,

convenience of further handlingso that @1316- determined sumiscontained in each package.

This, of-course, adds to thecost and timenoi the operationyand the count cannot be verified accurately. without breaking open thepacka ges Though automatic machines are available to countcoins, theseare .expensiveand usually are not provided for everyone who may need them.

Thefollowing is an example of a system which is in common use in retail stores ,-.where large numbers. of sales. clerks are employed on the premises. Each sales clerk is given a certain number of change-making coins of each-denomination at the beginningof the day, the coins having :been individually counted. and wrapped by the cashiers off ce. The sales clerks open 'the packages and recount thecoins beforeplacing them in cash registers for change-making The money collected by the clerks money is counted and taken. to the cashiers office where it is againcounted. The total should "equal the amount of cash sales made .by each sales clerk during the dayplus the amount vof change-making cash initially received by him.

It has'been found thatlargeorg'anizations annually lose substantial amounts of money as a result of this complicated system. a Time is unnecessarily lost and efiort duplicated because the cashier hastocount the coins and then wrap them,- only to. have the clerks unwrap the coins and recount them. At the end of-the day, when clerks are in a hurry to leave, itis necessary for them to collect the'loose coins and individua y oun them bef re re urn n t m to the ca f r final he kis-a nuisanc a leads to inaccuracy, whereas ifdone earlier customers are sometimes neglected or the ,jcleljks j become coniused from simultaneously waiting on customers and attempt n to acc mplish their ac ountin dut es. In ad awe shi a ain has to go through anelaborate counting procedure to verify the coins returned by l bclerks. Accordingly, itisan object of this invention to provide a coin; box in whicha predetermined number of coins may be stacked without having to count them individually. Another object is to provide a coin box of the above characterwhich w l e im nat th nece sity of wrappmg dins- A further object is to provide a coin box of the above character which will allowa sales clerk to determine quick-1y and accurately the number of coins therein without handling them.

A still further object is to provide a coin box of the above character which maybe conveniently inserted into a conventional cash'drawer Of a ca register, s hat ch ng ma :be Quickly vall as willbe illustratively described herein, and

thejscope of the application of which will be indicated in the' following claims.

In the drawings, in which one form of our invention is shoun:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coin box with the cover removed from the body member of' the I Fig. 2 is'an enlarged top plan view of the body member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. is a sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the cover in position on the body member, and showing the compartments for holding coins of different sizes;

Fig.4 is a sectional elevation taken along line l- -l of Fig. 3, in which the quarter and half dollar compartments are illustrated in further de a I Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along line 5-5 of Fig.2, with the cover on the body member, and showing in further detail the construction of the compartment for half, dollars;

6 is a fragmentary section taken along line on the body member;

parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the a body member, generally indicated at IU (Fig. 1) and a cover, generally indicated at l2, which fits on the body member in a manner hereinafter to be described. The body member ID has a plurality of compartments l4al4d (Fig. 3) which hold pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters, respectively. Spaced slots [5 (Fig. 2) are provided along the bottom of each compartment, thereby partially exposing alternate groups of coins to facilitate their being counted by a special device disclosed in copending application Serial No. 164,705, filed May 27, 1950. Recesses I8 (Figs. 1 and 3) corresponding in position to the slots 16 are provided in cover l2 to permit a quick and accurate visual check of the number of coins. A slot 20 extends through body member 10 between compartments 14b and He so that the body member may rest on a partition in the cash drawer of a cash register and coact therewith in the manner disclosed in copending application Serial No. 163,772, filed May 23, 1950.

More particularly, body member l0 and cover. I! are preferably made from a transparent plastic material to permit the coins to be seen easily. The body member has front and rear walls 22 and 23, and flanges 22a and 23a (Fig. 2) extend outwardly from the top of walls 22 and 23 to grip cover 12 as it is inserted onto body member [0. Slot extends from the lower edges of walls 22 and 23 to flanges 22a and 23a and is positioned between compartments Nb and Ho. The upper edge of wall 23 is rounded as at 231) (Fig. 6), ad-

jacent compartments [4a and Nb, to allow insertion of a fingertip to facilitate removal of the stacks of coins which nearly fill these compartments; the inside of wall 22 has inwardly exdrawings, the coin box has 4 these compartments l4a--l4c is a multiple of five so that each subdivided group may have five coins. Compartment [4d for quarters is provided with slots iii of such size as to allow displacement of alternate groups of four coins so that even dollar values are obtained.

A half dollar compartment He (Figs. 2, 4, and 5) is provided adjacent to and at the rear of compartment-Md, and is separated from compartment Md by a partition 36. Compartment He has arcuate wall portions 26e (Fig. 5) which define at the bottom an opening 38 extending tending vertical ribs 22b for the same purpose.

Body member II! also has side walls 24 and 25 (Fig. 3) provided with flange portions 24a and 25a; a detent 24b (Figs. 1 and '7) projects upwardly from flange portion 24a to lock cover 12 when it completely closes body'member ID.

The channels of compartments l4a--l4d extend between walls 22 and 23 and are formed by arcuate walls 26a-26d (Fig. 3), respectively, which have a diameter corresponding to a coin of a particular denomination. Thus, a plurality of stacked pennies may be snugly positioned in compartment 14a, nickels in compartment l4b, dimes in compartment [40, and quarters in compartment 14d. Arcuate walls 26a--26d are separated from each other by strips 28 (Figs. 2 and 3) integral with flange portions 22a and 23a, and the bottom surface of each wall is reinforced by rectangular strips 30 integral with the walls. The slots I6 provided at the bottom of compartment [4a, 14b and Mo have a length greater than the thickness of four stacked coins and a spacing permitting alternate groups of five coins to be displaced from each other in a manner hereinafter to be discussed more fully, Preferably, the number of coins that may be contained in each of throughout the width of the compartment (Fig. 4),. Opening 38 is preferably large enough to receive the fingertip so that the coins may be elevated to facilitate removal thereof. The number of half dollars which can be held in compartment He is relatively small and so can be determined quickly even though the coins are preferably not subdivided into smaller groups as in the other compartments.

Recesses l8 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) in cover [2 correspond in width and position to slots IS in body member In and permit the coins in each compartment to be subdivided into smaller groups for easy and reliable determination of the number of coins in the compartments when the box is tilted as illustrated in Fig. 8 with cover 12 in proper closed position.

Cover [2 is also provided with guides 40 (Figs. 1 and 6) formed by downwardly depending flanges 40a which are inwardly turned as at 4%. Guides 40 engage flanges 22a and 23a. on body member ID as cover I2 is slid along the body member. The cover also has a notch 42 (Fig. 7) formed therein which releasably receives detent 24b to keep the coin box closed.

Calibrations 32 (Fig. 2) visible through cover I2 and indicating cash value are engraved on the top of body member ID along the sides of compartments l4a-i4d to facilitate counting. Similar calibrations 34 are placed on the undersides of strips 30 (appearing backwards when observed fromabove as in Fig. 2) so that the number of coins in each compartment may be ascertained readily whether viewed from the top or bottom when groups of coins are displaced by the method illustrated in Fig. 8.

The capacity of compartment No is fifty pennies, and the five slots l6 and five recesses l8 for this compartment are gauged to permit displacement of alternate groups of five coins each, while calibrations 32 and 34 are struck of! accordingly. Compartment l4b has a capacity of forty nickels or two dollars in value, and has four slots, four recesses, and calibrations for the purposes above mentioned. Compartment llo is calibrated and provided with slots and recesses for fifty dimes, or five dollars in value, and though the capacity is greater, it is preferably not used in deference to obtaining a fixed, even amount of money. The quarter compartment -l4d is designed for counting alternate groups of Organizations using a large amount of change find it convenient to distribute these boxes each containing twenty quarters, fifty dimes, forty nickels, and fifty pennies, or $12.50 in value. This has in many cases proved to be an ideal distribution of change to begin sales. activities, and the total amount of. money handed out is quickly ascertained. ton counting eight .boxes ZDEI' onehundred 'dollarsin'change.

A typical routine ..for .a department .storeisas follows:

At the beginning. of the day eachclerk is given one coin box-which" contains a-ppredetermined :number of coins 'tobeused in making change for sales transaction. In some businesses. a "certain denomination is not required, in which case that. compartment would be left blank. Many stores also distribute several one dollar bills along with the change, and this maybe accomplished in conjunction with .our coin box by sev- .eral different ways. For'instance, the :bills may be placed in a separate envelope, or the coin box and bills may be placed together in a small metal .strong'box. If a certain denomination of coin is not distributed, the blank compartment could be used for rolled'bills. Finally, the coin box may be equipped with a special :clip or plastic shelf along the bottom'for holding bills securely to it (such a device is not shown'in the drawings), this type being useful with a one bank system, i. e. where clerks turn in and receive back their own money, the cashier providing safe care overnightand having a visible check on the contents.

L'Aftera clerk receives .a loaded coin box, to verify the coin cash he need only tilt the coin box forward at an angle (see Fig. 8) so, that the stacks of coins become displaced in the cover tomed to determining the amount of money received by taking a glance without even using the calibrations (it is common knowledge that because of thickness variations the number of coins in a stack can never be determined with certainty by. a length measurement alone, and for that reason the calibrations should be relied upon only for a general estimation). Real accuracy is possible only by counting, and this is made very simple and speedy by the described method of segregating the coins into small groups which need not be counted separately because, psyrangement is easily observed.

After receiving and checking his money, the clerk may next place the coin box in a cash register cash drawer and dispense change from it apparatus described in ,co-pending application 'SerialNo; 164,705dated' May ,27, 1950. ,At the same time he can adjust the contents of. each compartment in. accordance with the stores standard practice ,so that the correct amount of change remains in the box for distribution the following day.

There is thus provided a coin box in, which coins may be stacked without any necessity for counting each coin. ,When the coin box has been loaded, its contents may be determined simply and accurately by either the sales clerk or the cashier without having to handle the coins, eliminating the need for an elaborate double check. The coin box may be inserted in a conventional cash drawer of a cash register and change on sales can be made directly from it.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the features of the above invention and since the article herein described may be varied in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

. What we claim is:

l. A coin box having a body member and a cover formed of transparent material, means forming a plurality of elongated compartments in said body member, each of said compartments proportioned to hold a number of coins in axially aligned relationship when said box is in a normal position wherein the bottom of the box is substantially horizontal; and said transparent cover having aseries of rows of recesses formed in the underside thereof, said rowsrespectively aligned with said compartments to,subdivide said coins into small groups'to facilitate counting the number of-coins :ineach compartment when said box is tilted'from said normalposition. v I r 2. A coin box comprising,v in combination, a

; .body member, a cover formed of transparent materiaLmeans in said body member defining a pluralityof elongated channels having continuous smooth, portionseach adapted to hold a stack of coins ;of a particular denomination in-axial alignment when said box is in normal position,=and coacting formations on said body member and cover to detachably and slidably secure said cover to said body member, said cover having a series of spaced recesses in its inside surface disposed longitudinally over said, channels'when saidcover is in closedposition, whereby groups of coins may be displaced from their adjacent coins by invertif i in n orderl ah ing said body member to form alternate groups chologmany dlsun mm W a y of raised and lowered coins in said elongated channels.

3. A coin box having a plurality of elongated channels each adapted to hold a stack of coins directly after the cover is removed, a dis l 50 Of a particular denomination in axially aligned in co-pending application Serial No. 163,772 dated May 23, 1950, or. he may empty the contents into the various separate compartments of the cash drawer.

At the end of the day, each clerk is required to deposit his money with the cashier, and the coin box is used both for counting and transporting coins. A spare box may of course be made available for overflow if a large amount of change accumulates during the day.

A deposit slip is usually filled out and submitted to the cashier by every clerk, and then the cashier verifies each deposit either by making a visual examination according to the method outlined above using the covered coin box, or with the relationship, and a transparent cover fitting slidably'onto said box to close said box, said elongated channels having a plurality of slots uniformly separated from one another along the length of the channels to partially expose alternate groups of coins, and said cover having a plurality of spaced recesses formed in its inside surface corresponding in number and registering with said slots when said cover is in place to close said box, said slots being aligned and in parallel rows to receive a multi-pronged tool the prongs of which upon insertion displace groups of coins from each stack toward said recesses to facilitate counting.

4. A coin box comprising, in combination, a container formed of transparent material having therein an enclosed elongated pocket for coins of a particular denomination arranged fiatwise successively along the axis of said pocket, said pocket having continuous unbroken arcuate side wall surfaces of substantial area defining a main channel part of a dimension, smoothness and shapepermitting free axial movement of said particular coins for the length of the said pocket when the container is in a normal position wherein the bottom thereof is substantially horizontal whereby said coins may be freely stacked in said main channel part in coaxial alignment throughout the length thereof and a series of spaced recesses offset laterally from and communicating with said main channel portion of a shape and character whereby upon appropriate tilting of the container from said normal position in the direction of said recesses alternate groups of coins may gravitate edgewise into said recesses, with the intervening groups of coins restrained in axial alignment in said main channel portion and the coins may be observed and readily counted by reason of the said transparency of the material and the staggered relation of the successive groups of coins.

5. A coin box comprising, in combination, a container formed of transparent material having therein a plurality of enclosed elongated pockets each adapted to hold a series of coins of a particular denomination arranged in a stack along the axis of the pocket, each pocket having a main channel portion and a series of spaced recesses offset laterally from and communicating therewith, said main channel portion being of a shape and cross section and having side walls of substantial area other than at said recesses and opposed thereto which are smooth and unbroken in the longitudinal direction whereby the particular coin may be freely moved axially for the length of the said main channel portion and readily stacked therein in coaxial alignment for the full length of the pocket when the container is in a normal position wherein the bottom thereof is substantially horizontal, said ofiset recesses each having a dimension parallel to the axis of the pocket equal substantially to the combined thickness of a predetermined plural number of the particular coins and the distances between recesses being also equal substantially to said dimension whereby the corresponding wall section of the said main channel portionpresents alternate radially disposed openings and intervening rib parts and upon appropriate tilting of the container from said normal position in the direction of said recesses alternate groups of coins may gravitate edgewise into said recesses, with the intervening groups of coins restrained in said main channel portion by the respective said rib parts and the coins may be observed and readily counted by reason of the said transparency of the material and the staggered relation of successive groups of the coins.

6. A coin box comprising, in combination, a container having therein a plurality of enclosed elongated pockets each adapted to hold a stack of coins of a particular denomination arranged axially with respectzto each other successively along the axis of thepocket, each pocket havin a main channelportion. and a series of spaced recesses offset laterally from and communicating therewith, said main channel portion being 01 a shape and cross section and having side walls of substantial area other than'at said recesses and opposed thereto which are smooth and unbroken in the longitudinal direction'whereby the particular coins maybe freely moved axially for the length of the said main channel portion and readily stacked therein when the container is in a normal position wherein the bottom thereof is substantially horizontal, said offset recesses each having a dimension parallel to the axis of thepocket equalsubstantially to the combined thickness of a predetermined plural number of the particular coins and the distances between recesses being also equal substantially to said dimension whereby the corresponding wall section of the said main channel portion presents alternate radially disposed openings and intervening rib parts and upon appropriate tilting of the container from said normal position in the direction of said recesses alternate groups of coins may gravitate edgewise into said recesses, with the intervening groups of coins restrained in said main channel portion by the respective said rib parts, at least one of the walls of the pocket being transparent to enable the coins to be observed and readily counted by reason thereof and the staggered relation of successive groups of the coins.

HILDAUR L. NEILSEN. MICHAEL J. FEIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 189,956 Read 'Apr. 24, 1877 202,545 Holmes Apr. 16, 1878 219,287 Meaker Sept. 2, 1879 364,468 Bierley June 7, 1887 421,984 Staats Feb. 25, 1890 451,664 Culver May 5, 1891 464,420 Britton Dec. 1, 1891 776,768 Williams Dec. 6, 1904 1,064,024 Stimmel June 10, 1913 1,433,560 Lund Oct. 31, 1922 1,643,941 Brandt Oct. 4, 1927 2,246,431 Cochran June 17, 1941 2,302,861 Hinkel Nov. 24, 1942 2,378,004 Duell June 12, 1945 2,434,553 Ensley Jan. 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,009 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1897 218,062 Germany Jan. 21, 1910 255,707 Germany Jan. 21, 1913 

